New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2009, just like the inaugural season, has seen players who failed to justify their top billing or their huge price tags.
Here is a look at players who have failed to give their money's worth to their team owners.
Vijay Mallya's biggest and most-hyped purchase turned out to be a major flop of the second season of the IPL. Kevin Pietersen came up way short both as leader and batsman for Bangalore Royal Challengers. Under his captaincy, the team looked heading for disaster as they went on a losing streak after winning their first match against Rajasthan Royals.
Despite coach Stephen Fleming saying Andrew Flintoff was a "good influence" on Chennai Super Kings, it is not difficult to judge these were mere words of consolation. He gave away far too many runs against Mumbai and Delhi teams and failed to make up for that with bat. Three matches were all he ended up playing due to a knee problem.
He was New Zealand's biggest success story during India's recent tour. But Jesse Ryder failed to live up to the burden of expectations in the IPL. Starting his campaign with a couple ducks, he has failed to get going with the bat and with the ball as well. Though he is available throughout the tournament, at the moment even $160, 000 seem too much for him.
The deadly duo has been the biggest disappointment, both for their team and their fans back home. Together, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have contributed only 348 runs in 13 matches so far. It is yet another case of "high on reputation, low on performance".
After his dismal show in the inaugural season, much was expected of him this year. But Rahul Dravid has struggled for runs and has failed to provide solidity to the middle order, leaving his team vulnerable at delicate situations.
Reeling under accusations of racial abuse and match-fixing, dropped catches, an unimaginative captain and a big talking coach, desperate to implement a multiple-captain theory, the Knight Riders proved to be the biggest failure as a unit in the second season of the IPL.
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